Lightning-conductor



(No Model.)

T. H. DODGE.

LIGHTNING CONDUGTOR.

Patented May 13, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS H. DODGE, OF VOROESTEB, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIGHTNING-CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,357, dated May 13, 1884.

` Application filed June 2l, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs H. DODGE, of the city and county of Worcester, and Gommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Conductors, of which the following is a full, clear, and sufficient description.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe the device more in detail, reference being had to the aecompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to obviate the objections to lightning-conductors as heretofore used by substituting in lieu thereof a combination of devices by which greater and more effective earth-connections are obtained, and also whereby the air-discharges are extended to such a degree as to insure a neutralization of the power of opposing` electrical forces.

The nature of my invention consists, rst, in the combination of the air-terminal of a lightning rod or conductor with the metallic wires of a barbed fence; second, in the conibination, with the several wires of such fence,

of a series of earth-connections; third, in the combination, with the earth-connections, of a mass or package of barbed wire, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings my invention is represented as appliedv to practical use.

The rear'of a building, A, is provided with conducting-rods B, which extend to groundconnections C G C C G. These ground-connections are composed of waste pieces of barbed wire pressed or rolled into a mass, and as the earth works in and around all the bent portions of the wires and the barbs thereon an earth-conductor is obtained of great electric conducting capacity, and that, too, at a slight cost, since the waste pieces of barbed wire from which these earth-connections are made have heretofore been regarded as of but little value.

The conductors B B B pass through tubes D D D, located by preference in close proximity to the ends of water-conductors E E, whereby when rain falls it will pass through the tubes D D D, and thence down to the earth or ground connections G, thereby keeping the earth wet and insuring a perfect ground-discharge. Vhen the tubes are away from the water-conductors, as shown at F, then water may be turned down occasionally to insure the proper moisture in the earth.

G G are metal connections leading from the air-terminals on the building to the barbedwire fence H, and in this instance they pass under ground.

The barbed wires I I I I of the fence are connected with the ground at intervals, as

.shown at J, said upright wires J being secured to the fence-wires by winding copper wires about` both, by preference. By this combination of the building-conductors with the strands of a barbed-wire fence not only the extended lines of the main wires serve to distribute and equalize the electricity, but the numerous sharp points greatly aid and promote the air-discharges, whereby opposing electrical conditions are equalized and dangerous discharges prevented.

K K represent air-registers for admitting fresh air into the building, the same being carried through pipes between the iioors, whereby fresh air may be conducted into the rooms of the house, even though the windows are closed and fastened, and house-conductors B are shown arranged in close proximity to these registers, thus preventing a discharge of electricity through such registers and airpipes, to which they are connected, into the building.

L represents an extension-timber for supporting an eyebolt, M, to be used in raising heavy articles by means of a tackle, and this, too, is protected by passing a conductor over it and a short arm, N, close to eyebolt M.

The chimney O has two air-terminals, l? l?, uniting at the base of the chimney, and thence extending to the ground or earth connections C. By preference I make the connections leading from the air-terminals to the barbed fence of a cable composed of one galvanized wire and one copper wire, upon which are secured sheet-copper points or barbs, and this compound conductor I also run along in connection with the top strand of the fence.

In the drawings the ground is shown in section; also a portion of the lattice-work Q is shown broken away-the iirst for men to re- IOO move the earth-connections, and the latter to show the connections between the air-terminals and the barbed fence.

It will be understood that any desired nnmber of air-terminals or barbed-wire eonneetions may be used upon the building to be protected. In this ease the water-couduetors E extend from the Water-gatherers R, Which receive the Water from the Iloor of the veranda S; but the Water may be run from the waterconductors of the roof of the building.

T represents a telephone or telegraph wire which enters the house or oiliee-room, while U represents an adjustable conductor or switch, hinged in this instance at o to one ol" the honse-eonductors B, and having one end of a small cord or wire, p, attached thereto, the other end o1" said connection p extending inte the room, or to such convenient place as can be easily operated from the room in the house. The object of this arrangement is this: During a thunder-storm the eonneetion p is drawn in, thereby raisin g the outer end, which may be forked or enlarged, if preferred, so as to bring it in Contact with the telephone or telegraph wire T, thereby making a connection between such wire and the ground-oonneetions ofthe lightning conductors or rods, whereby the electric fluid, which might otherwise pass into and damage the building, Will be conducted to the ground. It will thus be seen that the use of telephone-wires will not be attended by so nlueh danger when my said arrangement is employed as heretofore.

lf preferred, a separate conductor to the earth-connection may be used, instead of one of the conductors B, 'for the telepl1one-Wire.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination ofthe air-terminal ofa lightning rod or conductor with the metallic wires of a barbed fence.

2. The combination, with the wire or Wires ol' a barbed-wire fence, oi' a lightning-conductor and a series of earth-eonnections 3. The combination, with the earth-connections, or' a mass or package of barbed Wires, C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THOMAS Il. DODGE.

Vitnesses:

Annn'r A. Blinknn, HENRY L. MILLER. 

